Removable bulldozer attachment



Oct. 6 1942. x c FORTE 2,297,677

REMOVABLE BULLDOZER ATTACHMENT Filed se t, 8, 1941 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 fig! r 2 INVENTQR Carl D. F orle A T TORNE Y Och 5,1942. c. D. FORTE 2,297,677

REMOVABLE BULLDOZER ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZJW/J/M JINVENTOR Carl D. F or/e BY W A T TORNE Y Oct. 6, 1942. c. D. FORTE REMOVABLE BULLDOZER ATTACHMENT 7 Filed Sept. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l I l I I J\ R Y o E w n Irm 0 D m d F m \w g Y B 2 m 4 q A 4\ 4 I 3 w l L F I, F M y I Patented Oct. 6, 1942 REMOVABLE BULLDOZER ATTACHMENT Carl D. Forte, San Diego, Calif.

Application September 8 9 Claims.

My invention relates to removable bulldozer attachments, particularly those employing rooters, and its objects are to render the operation of bulldozers more effective and to extend their range of application, to provide an automatically self adjusting means for securing the attachment to the bulldozer and for clamping or locking the same in place; to permit the attachment readily to be demounted and reinstalled in various predetermined positions on the bulldozer; and to obtain a better anchorage of parts and the prevention of displacement of the attachment under the conditions of the uses to which it may be applied. These and other various im portant objects and advantages will become apparent as shown in the'drawing and as hereinafter set forth and described.

Attention is hereby directed to the drawings, illustrating one form of my invention, in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my removable attachment, showing the same demountably secured to the moldboard of the bulldozer, some of the parts being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of my improved adapter, showing the same removed from the hook at the top of the attachment;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the rooter shank, showing the recesses for adjustable securing thereof;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the view shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6'is an enlarged view of a part of one of the front plates affixed to the saddle of the attachment, showing the position of the attach ment knuckle and trunnion seats;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the view shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is an'enlarged view in perspective of the double jaw construction of the hook member of my removable attachment, showing its pivotal connection with the top thereof and the locking means therefor;

Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged vertical section of the portion of my attachment taken through the attachment knuckle and adjacent parts;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in perspective of the lower part of my attachment, showing the 1941, Serial No. 409,931

trunnions to which the knuckle is pivotally secured and adjacent parts, and

Fig. 12 is a section on line l2-l2of Fig. 1

' looking in the direction of the arrows.

which it is pushed into desired position and operated as desired. In the front of the moldboard M of said bulldozer is the facing l5, to

which is secured in the well known way the main cutting edge 16, and also to the side of said moldboard is affixed the usual end cutting edge l1. Preferably the said casingi4 is constructed of metal and is formed with the extension 20,

which is reinforced by'the, braces 2i, welded to plate 3| (see Figs. 7, 8, 11 and 12).

the bottom of said casing. Engaging with said extension 20, and straddling the braces 2|, are the heavy metallic fingers 33 integral with the arms 32 extending from the saddle 30, the whole farming as shown a clamping hook, shaped to engage with the lower part of the moldboard MI Firmly welded to the saddle 30 and to the arms 32 is the metallic strip 34, the upper portion of which extends into the space between the braces 2| and operates to position the same (see Fig. 12).

Integral with said saddle 30, or firmly attached thereto, is the rectangularly shaped plate 3|, to which is attached by means of bolts 40, extending through openings 400. provided therefor, a pair of angle irons, 36 and 31, positioned to receive between their adjacent sides the body of the attachment 22, braces 38 and 39 welded to said angle irons being provided to hold the same firmly in upright position. Upon the face of said plate 3|, and firmly welded thereto, is the knuckle M, on each side of which are the trunnion seats 48 also welded to the plate 3!. Extending from each side wall of the body of the attachment 22, and located and shaped to engage with the said seats 46, are the trunnions 46, which, when so engaged and held by the pin 41 passing therethrough as well as through the opening in knuckle 44, serve to'form a rocking pivotal con nection between the said attachment and said In order to provide for a proper seating or clearance of the knuckle in respect to the adjacent wall of the attachment 22, I prefer to cut or break away the said wall so as to form the double seat 43, 63 shaped to receive or clear the projecting curvilinear portion of said knuckle.

In order to brace the walls of the body of my attachment, I preferably weld thereon the reinforcing tie or strips 28 and H, and the reinforcing plate and shield 29, and for the purpose of securing the rooter shank 26 within the pocket 25 thereof, I provide the pin 4| which extending through openings in the angleirons 36 and 31 and through the said walls of the attachment, and engaging with one of the recesses 35 in said shank, serves to hold the said shank firmly in position. As is obvious, each of these recesses operates to -a'djust said shank in either of two positions, "and if desired more of said recesses could be provided and could thereby increase the longitudinal adjustability of said shank. 4

Pivotally secured to the top portions 5| and 52 of the walls 23 and 24 of the main body of my attachment, is the hook member 48; the pin 53 extending through openings in side strips 49 and 50 of said member and openings in said top wall portions 5| and 52 as shown in the drawings, and serving to bring about an up and down pivotal movement of said hook member in respect to the main body of the attachment. At the inner ends of each of the side strips 49 and 50 is formed the jaw 66 in the form of an arcuate recess, shaped to engage with and to ride upon the curved periphery of one of the end blocks 62 or 63 of the adapter 6|. Such adapter is a revoluble one piece member, preferably formed of welded parts, having the end blocks 62 and 63, the end flanges 65, and. the tie strip 64, which strip is shaped to engage with the top bar 69 of the bulldozer (see Figs. 2 and 3). As will be observed in the drawing, the tie strip 64, once it engages with the top bar 69, of the moldboard l4 will while so engaged cause the adapter to become immovable thereon, while the jaws 66 will be free to turn upon the curved periphery of 'the end blocks 62 and 63, except as limited in such turning by the lug 68 carried by each of the flanges 65 coming against one of the stops 61. In order to assure suificient rigidity to the hook member 48, and firmly to hold its parts in proper relation, I preferably weld thereto as shown the tie strips 58, 59 and 60 (see Fig. 9).

For the purpose of clamping and locking my improved attachment to the moldboard of the bulldozer, and rigidly securing all parts thereof in operative position against dislodgment, I weld between the outer ends of side strips 49 and 50 the tie plate 54, having therein the threaded opening 55 and serving as a nut for the reception of the adjustment bolt 56. Connecting the top portions 5| and 52 of the main body of my attachment and welded thereto is the tie plate 51, serving as a seat for the end of the bolt 56. As is obvious, once my attachment is placed in the position shown in the drawings, the tightening upon the jam nut 10 of the bolt 56 against its seat on plate 51 will result in a positive forcing together of all parts of the attachment, and the firm locking of the same against dislodgment.

By reason of this new and improved arrangement of parts of my improved attachment, I am enabled to adjust and to secure the same to almost any form of bulldozer now in common use. The construction of my adapter and con nections is such that the same may be readily mounted upon and conform to the shape and position of the top bar or top edge of the moldboard of such bulldozer; the pivotal mounting of the main body of my attachment upon the bulldozer through the arrangement of knuckle and trunnions as aforesaid greatly contributing to such result, and providing an automatic means of adjustment heretofore unknown in the art.

In affixing my removable attachment to the moldboard I4, I preferably first detach therefrom the hook member 48, by taking out the pin 53. I then place the said member in proper position on the bulldozer, by engaging the adapter with the top bar 69 of said moldboard. Thereupon the rooter shank 26 having been adjusted in the desired longitudinal position through the use of the pin 4|, I engage the lips 33 with the extension 20, and through removal of one of the angle irons 36 or 31, I engage the knuckle 44 with the trunnions 45 and secure the same in place through use of the pin 41. The said angle iron being restored to position, I then secure the top of my attachment to the hook member by the pin 53,

' and upon seating the end of the bolt 56 upon its seat 51, and screwing the same down thereon, the parts are clamped and locked in position and the attachment is ready for use.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated the use of two attachments as mounted upon the moldboard of a bulldozer, and as adjusted'thereon. In order to provide for a number of adjustments upon the front plate of the saddle, I have shown three sets of knuckles and accompanying trunnion seats, to any one of which sets the body of the attachment could be pivotally affixed. I have also shown two of the said front plates. As is obvious, more plates and more of said sets of mountings could be constructed and used if desired, and required by the specific character of the work. The construction of my improved attachment, as may readily be seen, permitting it to be clamped and used upon any part of the bulldozer, that is, at either or both ends, or any place therebetween, or to be used in multiple, or in any combination of location desired. In such respect, my invention will be found of advantage in such work as rooting circular roads, toes of slopes, gutter lines, ditches, square corners for buildings, vertical slopes for underground structures, and other work where the ordinary type of rooter is impossible of use. Such work is greatly facilitated through the use of the various sets of mountings above referred to, and the adaptation of the same to the particular work under construction.

In the claims where I refer to the top of the moldboard of the bulldozer or equivalent language, I desire to be understood as designating not only the upper edge of the face of said moldboard, but also as referring to the top bar of said moldboard or any other upper part thereof to which attachment may be made.

My invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present e'mbodiment, as hereinbefore set forth is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of my invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be included therein.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a removable bulldozer attachment, the combination of an attachment member, clamping hook means pivotally mounted thereon for securing the lower end of 52 id member to the lower part of the moldboard of the bulldozer, means for pivotally securing the upper end of said member 2,997,157? to the upper part oi said moldboard, and means for clamping and locking against movement; in any direction all of said parts inoperative position.

2. In a removable bulldozer attachment, the combination of an attachment member, a clamping hook shaped to engagewith the lower part of the moldboard, knuckle and trunnion means mounted on said member and pivotally securing said hook to the lower part of said member, and double hook means for pivotally securing the upper end of said member to the top of said moldboard.

3. In a removable bulldozer attachment, the

combination of an elongated member, a clamping hook shaped to'engage with the lower part of the moldboard, knuckle and trunnion means mounted upon said member;and pivotally securing said hook to the lower end of said member, adjustable hook means for pivotally securing the upper end of said member to the top 'of said moldboard, and means for locking against movement in any direction all of said parts in operative position.

4. In a bulldozer attachment, the combination of a body member, a hook member pivotally mounted thereon and having a curvilinear recess therein, and a block engaging with, and fitted to turn within,said recess, and shaped to engage with the top of the moldboard of said bulldozer.

5. In a bulldozer attachment, the combination of a body member, a double hook member mounted thereon and having aligned curvilinear recesses therein, and a block engaging with, and fitted to turn within, said recesses, and shaped to engage with the top of the moldboard of said bulldozer.

6. In a bulldozer attachment, the combination of a body member, a hook member mounted thereon and having a curvilinear shaped recess therein, a block rotatably mounted upon said hook member within said recess and shaped to engage with the top of the moldboard of said bulldozer, and means carried by said body member for 5 immovably clamping all of said parts in operative position.

7. In a bulldozer attachment, the combination of a body member, a double hook member mounted thereon and having aligned double l0 curvilinear shaped recesses therein, a block rotatably mounted upon said hook member within said recesses and shaped to engage with the top of the moldboard of said bulldozer,'and means carried by said body member for immovably. 15 clamping all of said parts in operative position. 8. In an attachment mountable upon bulldozer -moldboards and braces thereof, the combination of an attachment member, means for pivotally securing the upper part of said member to the 20 top of the moldboard, a clamping hook pivotally mounted upon the-lower part of said attachment member and shaped to engage with the lower edge of said moldboard, said clamping hook having a groove positioned to register with and to receive one of the lower braces of said moldboard and to prevent sideslipping of said hook thereon. 1 9. In an attachment mountable upon bulldozer -moldboards and braces thereof, the combination of an attachment member, means for pivotally securing the upper part of said member to the top of the moldboard, a clamping hook pivotally mounted upon the lower part of said attachment member and shaped to engage with the lower edge of said moldboard, said clamping hook having a central block positioned to register between two of the lower braces of said moldboard and to prevent sideslipping of said hook thereon.

40 CARL D. FORTE. 

